Hebrews 10:25Let us not give up meeting together, as some
are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one
another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
There is a growing trend for church members to stay at
home today. We’re not talking about marginal Christians who
would sooner be sleeping in or watching sports on Sunday.
These are devoted Christians who love the Lord.
The problem is that people have been hurt at church too
often. Sometimes it is because the church is full of wolves
in sheep’s clothing who aren’t genuine in their faith. Other
times it is because even the best Christians have bad days
and are capable of causing significant pain to someone else.
The solution for many people is to stay at home. They can
get their sermon on television and maintain fellowship with
other Christians online. Radio, television, the internet,
and whatever technologies lay ahead in the future are all
tools that the church can and should use to spread the
gospel. They are not a substitute for church however.
The Christian life was not meant to be lived alone. We
get encouragement and fellowship from other Christians.
There are many things that we get from being around a group
of Christians that we can’t get from an email or telephone
call.
There is nothing like a group of Christians who are
united together in worship. There is power when a group of
believers are all praying for the same outcome. There is
tremendous joy found in singing praises with other
Christians. We can pray and worship on our own, and we
should throughout the week, but nothing can replace the
group experience if we aren’t a part of it.
Time and time again Christians have said that there was
something missing from their week because they weren’t in
church that week. We shouldn’t come to church just because
it is the right thing to do or because someone will make us
feel guilty about it. We should make church a priority in
our schedules because there is nothing else like it that can
replace the fellowship of other believers.
